Pakistan Ambassador Gives National Day Reception

Khwaja Mohammad Kaiser, Pakistan Ambassador to China, gave a reception on the evening of March 23 in celebration of the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Chou En-lai, Premier of the State Council; Kuo Mo-jo, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress; and responsible members of departments concerned attended the reception. The reception proceeded in an atmosphere of friendship between the peoples of China and Pakistan. Ambassador Kaiser and Vice-Chairman Kuo Mo-jo spoke at the reception. In his speech, the Ambassador described the achievements the Pakistan people had made under the leadership of President Yahya Khan in safeguarding national independence and in building their country.

He said: "Since independence our efforts have been to bring about a transformation of our country from that of a colonially exploited one to that of a respected Ration taking its rightful and proud place in a peaceful world community in the twentieth century. In this regard our historical difficulties have been compounded by the designs of others. The sacred soil of Pakistan has been aggressed against several times, but the people and their valiant defenders have repelled it each time." Ambassador Kaiser said that the friendship between Pakistan and China was based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. It was not based on selfish motives nor expediency. "Such a friendship mocks at its enemies, defies attempts at its disruption. This friendship never looks back but always marches forward," he said. He pointed out that numerous friendly contacts between the leaders and peoples of Pakistan and China had taken place and both sides "are scrupulously observing and implementing the host of agreements entered into for our mutual .benefit. Economic co-operation between our two countries has been developing well. Exchange of technical know-how and mutual participation have already yielded significant results."" The Ambassador continued: "The people of Pakistan recall with deep gratitude the support and assistance rendered by your Government and people to us when we were subjected to an unprovoked aggression by a neighbour in 1965. This proved in deeds the great regard that China has for the friendship of Pakistan, for the cause of justice, and for the preservation of peace in our region." lie pointed out that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were grateful to the Chinese people for their support to their cause. Ambassador Kaiser said: "We firmly believe that the People's Republic of China representing a fifth of the world's population and with its avowed interest in the promotion of peace is entitled to a leading role in international affairs. We categorically reject the myth of 'two Chinas.' Our people and our Government resolutely uphold the right of the People's Republic of China to be restored to its legitimate place in the United Nations." He continued: "The last 20 years have seen an unprecedented upsurge in human aspiration in your great country. In all fields of development your progress has been phenomenal. This country, this vast land from the mountains of Tibet which before liberation had groaned under ruthless tyranny and evils of exploitation to the flourishing industries of the north, from the land mass bordering the Pacific in the cast to Sinkiang in the west, the Chinese nation is now throbbing with a new sense of unity and purpose. These developments are to be seen, to be believed. Every man, woman and child is supremely conscious of his responsibilities in all fields of human endeavour. All these have taken place under the wise and dedicated leadership of Chairman Mao Tsetung — may he live a long long life to guide your destinies. Your example is such that it cannot leave the rest of the world uninspired. To us, your Asian friend and neighbour, your progress has been a matter of joy, pride and inspiration and we wish you still greater victories in your peaceful endeavours in times to come." In his speech, Vice-Chairman Kuo Mo-jo extended on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, warm congratulations on the occasion to the Pakistan Government and people. Kuo Mo-jo said: "The people of Pakistan have a glorious tradition of opposing imperialism and expansionism. The Pakistan Government has pursued a foreign policy of independence and persevered in upholding state sovereignty and national dignity and in opposing foreign aggression and interference and the expansionist policy of big-nation chauvinism. The Chinese Government and people express great admiration for this." He wished the Pakistan Government and people continued and new successes in safeguarding national independence and building their country under the leadership of His Excellency President Yahya Khan. Vice-Chairman Kuo Mo-jo added: "There exists a profound traditional friendship between the peoples of China and Pakistan. In recent years, thanks to the common efforts of our two Governments and peoples, the friendly relations and co-operation between China and Pakistan have continuously developed and grown stronger. Recently, together with the other members of the Chinese Friendship Delegation, I paid a friendly visit to Pakistan and we were accorded a hospitable reception and warm welcome by the Government and people of Pakistan. We express hearty thanks to the Pakistan Government and people for such deep sentiments of friendship." "Sino-Pakistan friendship," he continued, "is based on the Five Principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence; it grows in the struggle against the aggression and interference by imperialism and expansionism and is in accord with the fundamental interests of the peoples of China and Pakistan. The Pakistan Government and people firmly oppose the 'two Chinas' plot, actively support the restoration of China's legitimate rights in the United Nations and have worked to safeguard and strengthen Sino-Pakistan friendship. We express deep thanks for all this." "Of late," Kuo Mo-jo went on to say, "His Excellency President Yahya Khan has once again stressed that friendship with China is an important factor in the foreign policy of Pakistan. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, I reaffirm that it is the Chinese Government's unswerving policy to continue to develop friendly and good-neighbourly relations with Pakistan on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Together with the Pakistan Government and people, we will, as always, make joint efforts to safeguard and promote Sino-Pakistan friendship. We firmly support the Pakistan Government and people in their just struggle to safeguard state sovereignty and oppose foreign aggression and interference and firmly support the Kashmiri people's just struggle for the right to self-determination. We are deeply convinced that Sino-Pakistan friendship can stand the test of time. No one can ever succeed in his wild attempt to sabotage the friendly relations between China and Pakistan." In conclusion, Vice-Chairman Kuo Mo-jo said: "China's Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution has already won great victory. Under the leadership of our great leader Chairman Mao, the people of all nationalities of China, imbued with soaring enthusiasm and strong fighting will and going all out and aiming high, have brought about a new upsurge in grasping revolution, promoting production and other work and preparedness against war. We are determined to build our great socialist motherland into a still more consolidated, more prosperous and more powerful country. Firmly following Chairman Mao's teachings, we will unite with the people of the whole world and with all the countries and people subjected to imperialist aggression, control, interference or bullying and carry to the end the fight to smash the imperialist policies of aggression and war!"